College Basketball: New ranking system will help determine NCAA field

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Loudon Love #11 of the Wright State Raiders dunks the ball in the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Loudon Love #11 of the Wright State Raiders dunks the ball in the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

A new ranking system will be used to determine NCAA Tournament teams.

The NCAA has developed a new system to replace the RPI as the primary method for evaluation teams during the Division I men’s basketball season.

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The NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) will rely on results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency and the quality of wins and losses. One difference from the RPI, game dates and order were omitted to give equal importance to both early- and late-season games. Also, a cap of 10 points will be applied to the winning margin to prevent teams running up the score in games.

“What has been developed is a contemporary method of looking at teams analytically, using results-based and predictive metrics that will assist the Men’s Basketball Committee as it reviews games throughout the season,” said Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of basketball for the NCAA. “While no perfect rankings exist, using the results of past tournaments will help ensure that the rankings are built on an objective source of truth.”

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